MAKING HEAT-EXCHANGING CAST METAL FORMING TOOL

摘要

A one-piece cast metal heat-exchanging forming tool (10) is prepared using an expendable porous preform (34) that is cast in place within a cast metal forming tool. The expendable preform is thereafter extracted to leave behind a network of inter-connected pores and passages (32) within the body of the tool through which a heat transferring fluid may be circulated to transfer heat to or from a subtantially non-porous contoured shaping surface of the tool. Fluid distribution/collection lines and vacuum lines (26, 28) may be incorporated in the tool during casting.